Fork



April 14, 1931. HUIE 1,801,084

FORK

Filed March l5, 1930 Patented Apr. 1'4, 1931 UNITED STATES JOSEPH HUIE,OF DULUTH, MDVNESOTA i rom:

Application led March 13, 1930. Serial No. 435,447.

This invention relates to forks and has special reference to a fork suchas used in the handling and serving of cooked meats, vegetables, and thelike.

he principal object is to produce a more practical, simple, and sanitaryinstrument of this character than heretofore known.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thisapplication, and wher-ein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through one of the improved forksembodying the invention and in which portions are Yillustrated inelevation;

Figure 2 is a central section at right angles to Figure 1 through thehandle portion of the fork and showing other portions in elevation whileFigure 3 is an elevation of the rearmost handle end of the fork.

l represents a handle preferably made of wood or the like and eitherround, oval, or square in cross section, as preferred; the same beingaxially bored preferably as by a graduated or stepped hole formedcentrally thereof.

2 represents the spaced tines of the fork, which are shown as beingscrew threadedly mounted within the forward end of the handle. Thesetines are sharpened preferably as by opposed flattened sides asillustrated Vat 3 taperlng to a point at the innermost end, the fulldiameter of each tine being carried materially forwardly of the attenedportion. This is done as it is found such a shaped termination of thetines tend to hold much more readily and firmly when the fork has becomeengaged in the material to be conveyed.

A shield like metal cap is illustrated at 4 which normally impinges andcovers the forward end of the handle, and is made to project thereaboutson all sides for purposes hereinafter described. This cap is providedwith a cylindrical hub-like projection 5 at its center, intermediate ofthe tines of the 50 fork and which hub portion may be formed integralwith the cap or fastened therein as illustrated. The hub is screwthreaded internally for the reception of the cross head spindle 6 in itsouter end, and the pitman or plunger 7, in its innermost end.

The cross head is illustratedat 8 and comprises a simple flatcross-piece, fixed in any desired manner to the outermost end of thespindle 6 and having a hole adjacent either end through which the tinesof the fork extend. The plunger or pitman 7 extends axially of thegraduated hole in the handle, said hole, adjacent the forward end of thehandle, being preferably of a reasonably close lit about the plungerwhile for a predetermined distance from said smallest portion of thehole the latter is enlarged for example as indicated at 9; this portionof the hole being for the reception of the expansive helical spring l0which surrounds the plunger. Then that portion of the hole in the handleadjacent the rearmost end thereof is further enlarged as at 11 toaccommodate the head 12 of the plunger which is integral therewith andprovided with a transverse slot so as to be manipulated as a screw. Nowthe distance intermediate of the head 12 of the plunger and the shoulder13 formed at the junction of the two larger portions of the bore isdesigned to be just equal to the desired throw of the cross head 8,which, when in its outermost position, is in close proximity to thetermini of the tines of the fork.

A metal cover 14 is provided for the rearmost end of the handle and heldin position by suitable screws 15 which are readily removable for accessto the interior of the handle for adjustment or the like.

The operation of the device as is obvious is accomplished by thumb orfinger manipulation of the cap 4, as when it is desired to ejectanything from the extreme ends of the tines a forward extension of thecap 4 advances the cross head 8 and thrusts 0H' such object, when onrelease of the cap the expansive effect of the spring 10 will instantlyreturn the cap and its associated parts to their normal closed orretarded position.

I am aware that somewhat similar devices ing means have been used butthe advantages of simplicity in the instant invention are obvioustogether With its sanitary properties as nothing extends beyond thehandle to gather objectionable foul matter except the tines and thecross-head spindle.

Having thus deseri-bed my invention, what I claim. and desire to secureby Letters Pat-` ent, is:

A serving fork of the type described including a hollow handle, spacedtinespro jecting Jfrom the handle, ejeeting means oarf ried upon thetines7 a reoiprocable pitman Within the handle for operating theejeeting, means, a shieldlike cap normally adjacent the end of thehandle and about the tines, an elongated. nhub upon said eap having aserevvthreaded. bore into Whieh. the pitmanv ismounted, andra spindleconnecting the ejectand the hub. Y

In testimonyvvhereof I alli); my signature.

JOSE-PH HUIE.

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